3,000 Hit Club Single-Signed Ball Collection (18)

This collection of single-signed baseballs features the signatures of eighteen of the twenty-seven players who have garnered 3,000 or more hits. The 3,000 hit mark is one of baseball's time-honored measuring sticks when it comes to defining greatness at the plate and the difficulty of the feat is exemplified by a short list of legendary players who are not members of the club: Babe Ruth, Rogers Hornsby, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, George Sisler, and Jimmie Foxx. Unless otherwise noted, all of the balls are official Major League (Selig) balls in Near Mint condition and have been signed across the sweet spot in blue ink ("9/10"). One of the balls has been graded by PSA DNA and is housed in the company's special ball cube (seals unbroken). Also, a number of the players have added a brief notation alongside their signature (number of career home runs/hits, year of HOF induction, etc.). The players represented here are Craig Biggio, Wade Boggs (official American League [Brown] ball), George Brett, Lou Brock (official National League [Giamatti] ball, small area of very light age toning), Rod Carew (official American League [Budig] ball), Tony Gwynn, Rickey Henderson (official American League [Brown] ball), Al Kaline (official American League [Brown] ball, light soiling and abrasions), Willie Mays, Paul Molitor, Eddie Murray (tiny ink smudge, otherwise "10"), Stan Musial ("8"), Rafael Palmeiro, Cal Ripken Jr. (official American League [Budig] ball with commemorative Ripken "2130/2131" stamp on a side panel), Pete Rose, Dave Winfield (PSA DNA Mint 9), Carl Yastrzemski (official American League [Budig] ball, tiny area of light age toning), and Robin Yount (black ink). This is an outstanding 3,000 Hit Club single-singed ball collection and, with the exception of Aaron, one that is basically near- complete for the average collector. (Few hobbyists can afford to purchase single-signed balls of the remaining club members: Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker, Cap Anson, Honus Wagner, Nap Lajoie, Eddie Collins, Paul Waner, and Roberto Clemente.) LOA from James Spence/JSA. Total: 18 balls. Reserve $200. Estimate $400/$800.SOLD FOR $2,115

(Click the smaller thumbnails to the left and right (if any) to cycle through each photo in the gallery of images for this lot.)